Device and Method for Mounting a Plumbing Fixture to a Supporting Surface Using an Assembly Plate

ABSTRACT

A device and a method for fixing a sink, a commode, a bidet, or a urinal bowl to the floor surface or wall surface of a bathroom. The base of the bowl can be mounted on the supporting surface in question and can be fixed thereto by way of bolts, especially screw bolts, penetrating boreholes located in the base. An assembly plate is fixed to the supporting surface. The assembly plate is located inside the base once the plumbing fixture has been positioned, and is embodied especially with at least one guide for sliding parts in which the fixing bolts for the fixture can be anchored.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copendinginternational application PCT/AT2006/000116, filed Mar. 20, 2006, whichdesignated the United States; this application also claims the priority,under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Austrian patent applications A 484/2005, filedMar. 21, 2005, and A 923/2005, filed Mar. 30, 2005; the priorapplications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to a device and a method for fixing a sink bowl, acommode or toilet bowl, a bidet bowl, a urinal bowl or the like to awall surface or to the floor surface of a bathroom, a toilet and thelike. The base of the bowl is thereby capable of being positioned on therespective supporting surface and of being fixed to the supportingsurface by way of bolts, especially studs, which penetrate bore holeslocated in the base.

In conjunction with the fixing of sink bowls, commodes, bidet bowls,urinal bowls and the like to a wall surface or to the floor surface of abathroom, a toilet and the like, difficulties can be encountered to theextent that water pipes, gas pipes, electrical cables, heating pipes,etc., can be present inside these surfaces, which can be damaged by theformation of bore holes for the fixing of the bowls. In addition, wallsurfaces and floor surfaces may exhibit a low load capacity because oftheir small thickness or because of their poor quality, and they can beuneven, as a result of which the fixing of sanitary fixtures is likewisehindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device formounting a plumbing fixture which overcomes the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of thisgeneral type and which facilitates the mounting of sink bowls, commodesor toilet bowls, bidet bowls, urinal bowls and the like to wall surfacesor to floor surfaces to a considerable degree.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a device for fixing a plumbing fixture toa supporting surface, the plumbing fixture having a base to bepositioned on and fixed to the supporting surface, the devicecomprising:

-   -   an assembly plate configured to be fixed to the supporting        surface and for attachment thereto of the base of the plumbing        fixture;    -   fixing bolts configured to penetrate through bore holes in the        base of the plumbing fixture and fixing the base to the assembly        plate;    -   wherein the assembly plate is disposed between the plumbing        fixture and the supporting surface when the plumbing fixture is        mounted in position.

The term “plumbing fixture” as used herein pertains to sanitary fixturesand the like, including, but not limited to, sinks, commodes, toiletbowls, bidets, urinal bowls, and similar objects.

In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved in that thereis provided an assembly plate capable of being fixed to the supportingsurface, to which the bowl can be fixed, and which is located betweenthe supporting surface and the base of bowl once the bowl has beenplaced in position.

The outer border of the assembly plate is preferably approximatelyidentical to the inner edge of the base of the bowl, the latter beingpositioned at least in part on the outer border of the assembly plate.Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured with bore holes or thelike which serve for its fixing to the supporting surface by means ofbolts, especially by means of studs. In addition, the assembly plate canbe configured with bore holes which are allocated to the bore holesprovided in the base of the bowl and which serve to receive fixingbolts, especially studs, for the purpose of fixing the bowl.

According to a further illustrative embodiment, the assembly plate isconfigured with at least one undercut groove, in which bolts penetratingthe base of the bowl are capable of being locked. The bolts penetratingthe base of the bowl can be configured as hammer head bolts in thiscase.

According to one very important embodiment, the assembly plate isconfigured with at least one guide, along which sliding parts arecapable of sliding displacement, in which sliding parts the fixing boltspenetrating the base of the bowl are capable of being anchored,especially of being screwed. This guide can be constituted by angledstrips provided on the upper side of the assembly plate, along which thesliding parts are capable of sliding displacement.

Furthermore, screws can be allocated to the sliding parts, by means ofwhich screws the sliding parts can be fixed in their position on theassembly plate. In addition, the sliding parts can be configured withsections of tube into which the fixing bolts penetrating the bore holesin the base of the bowl can be screwed. These sections of tube arepreferably capable of being caused to pivot in relation to the slidingparts in the plane of the direction of displacement. Furthermore, theassembly plate is preferably configured with lateral recesses.

Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured as a metal plate,projecting from the side of which facing the bowl are at least two boltsonto which the bowl can be slid by means of bore holes provided in itsbase. Furthermore, the assembly plate can be configured with a strip orthe like, to which a strip or the like is allocated in the base of thebowl, both strips being capable of being clamped to one another.

With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, inaccordance with the invention, a plumbing fixture, such as a sink bowl,toilet bowl, bidet bowl, urinal bowl or the like, which is suitable foruse with an assembly plate as outlined above and which can additionallybe provided, in the area of its base, extending as far as and cominginto contact with a supporting surface, with a border preferably runningall the way round and with a recess formed thereby.

According to a method for fixing a sink bowl, a toilet bowl, a bidetbowl, a urinal bowl and the like to a wall surface or to the floorsurface of a bathroom, a toilet and the like by means of an assemblyplate according to the invention, this is fixed to the supportingsurface by gluing and/or by screwing, and the bowl is then placed onthis assembly plate, whereupon the bowl is fixed by means of bolts tothe assembly plate.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin device and method for fixing a sanitary object to a supportingsurface using an assembly plate, it is nevertheless not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a toilet bowl, as an axonometric representation;

FIG. 1A shows the toilet bowl according to FIG. 1 with an assembly plateaccording to the invention, as a vertical section;

FIG. 1B shows the toilet bowl according to FIG. 1, as a view from below;

FIGS. 2 and 2A show two first embodiments of an assembly plate accordingto the invention, in each case as an axonometric representation;

FIGS. 3 and 3A show a toilet bowl with a second embodiment of anassembly plate according to the invention, as a view from below and as avertical section;

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an assembly plate according to theinvention, as an axonometric representation and on an enlarged scale inrelation to FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 5A show a first embodiment of a sink bowl with an assemblyplate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation andas a vertical section;

FIGS. 6 and 6A show a second embodiment of a sink bowl with an assemblyplate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation andas a vertical section;

FIGS. 7 and 7A show a third embodiment of a sink bowl with an assemblyplate according to the invention, as an axonometric representation andas a vertical section;

FIGS. 8 and 8A show two fourth embodiments of an assembly plateaccording to the invention, in each case as an axonometricrepresentation; and

FIGS. 9 and 9A show the toilet bowl according to FIGS. 1 and 1B withallocated assembly plates according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail, and first toFIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B thereof, a conventional commode or toilet bowl 1 isconfigured with an upper bowl rim 11 and with a lower base 13. A toiletseat can be fixed to the bowl rim 11 by means of bolts capable of beinginserted in bore holes 12. The base 13 is configured with bore holes 14,which serve to receive bolts, especially studs, for fixing the toiletbowl 1 to the floor surface 10 of a toilet, a bathroom and the like.

An assembly plate 2, which is fixed to the floor surface 10 by gluing orby screwing, is used to facilitate the fixing of the toilet bowl 1.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, a first embodiment of an assemblyplate 2 is configured as a flat plate, wherein its size and its lateralborder are configured in such a way that the base 13 of the toilet bowl1 can be positioned over the assembly plate 2 that is fixed to the floorsurface 10, so that the assembly plate 2 is present inside the base 13.The end face 20 of the assembly plate 2 is preferably adapted to theinner edge of the base 13 in such a way that the toilet bowl 1 can bepositioned on the assembly plate 2 with positive engagement.

The assembly plate 2 can be configured with bore holes 21, slots and thelike, which serve to permit its fixing to the floor surface by means ofbolts. Furthermore, the assembly plate 2 can be configured with boreholes 24 allocated to the bore holes 14 in the base 13, into whichscrews serving for the purpose of fixing the toilet bowl 1 can beintroduced. What is more, these bore holes 24 can be configured with afemale thread for the fixing screws.

The assembly plate 2 according to FIG. 2A differs from the assemblyplate according to FIG. 2 in that it is configured with a recess 22 forthe outlet pipe of the toilet bowl 1.

For the purpose of fixing the toilet bowl 1 to a floor surface 10, theassembly plate 2 is fixed to the floor surface 10 by means of bolts. Thefixing bolts in this case are provided in positions in which there is nofear of damage being caused to pipes or lines that are already presentin the floor surface. As an alternative or in addition, the assemblyplate 2 can be fixed to the floor surface by gluing. Provided that theassembly plate 2 is adapted to the internal space of the base 13 of thetoilet bowl 1 within the material tolerances, the toilet bowl 1 willalready be fixed in position as soon as it is positioned on the assemblyplate 2 that is attached to the floor surface 10. The fixing boltspassing through the bore holes 14 provided in the base 13 and capable ofbeing anchored in the bore holes 24 of the assembly plate 2 are thenadditionally inserted.

An assembly plate of this kind can also be used for fixing sink bowlsand toilet bowls to wall surfaces and for fixing bidet bowls and urinalbowls to floor surfaces or to wall surfaces. In this case, too, theassembly plate, which is preferably adapted with positive engagement tothe bases of the sink bowls, toilet bowls, bidet bowls and urinal bowls,is fixed to floor surfaces or to wall surfaces by screwing or by gluing,the base of the bowl in question is placed on the assembly plate that isfixed to the supporting surface in question, and the bowl is then fixedto the assembly plate by means of bolts passing through the base andanchored in the assembly plate.

According to one preferred embodiment, an assembly plate of this kindconstitutes a component that is adapted to the sink bowl, toilet bowl,bidet bowl or urinal bowl or the like in question and is marketed inconjunction with it.

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 3 and 3 a, a second embodiment of anassembly plate 2 can also be configured considerably smaller than thebase 13 of the toilet bowl 1 or some other sanitary bowl. This isappropriate since bowls of this kind can exhibit a plurality ofdifferent configurations. Provided, therefore, that the assembly plate 2is only provided in a section of the base 13 of the toilet bowl 1, inparticular in its central area, an assembly plate 2 with a single sizecan be used for toilet bowls 1 of different configurations. Thisassembly plate 2 is fixed to a floor surface 10 by gluing and/or byscrewing. The toilet bowl 1 is then placed in position above theassembly plate 2 and is fixed thereto.

The third embodiment of an assembly plate 2 a according to the inventiondepicted in FIG. 4 is of plane configuration on the side by which it isfixed to a supporting surface, whereas it is configured on the otherside with undercut grooves 25, in which sliding parts 26, that arepreferably configured with female threads, are guided in such a way asto be capable of sliding displacement. Screws 27 for fixing the toiletbowl 1 are capable of being screwed into the sliding parts 26.

An assembly plate 2 a of this kind, which exhibits a size such as toenable it to be arranged inside the base 13 of the toilet bowl 1, isfixed to a wall surface or to a floor surface 10 by gluing and/or byscrewing. A number of sliding parts 26 corresponding to the number offixing screws 27 is then introduced into the undercut grooves 25, and atoilet bowl 1 is positioned thereon. Subsequently, at least two screws27 are introduced into the bore holes 14 provided in the base 13 of thetoilet bowl 1 and are screwed into the sliding parts 26, as a result ofwhich the toilet bowl 1 is fixed to the assembly plate 2 a and thus tothe supporting surface.

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 5 and 5 a, the same kind of fixing canalso be utilized for a sink bowl 3. A third embodiment of an assemblyplate 2 b is provided in this case, which is glued to a wall 10 a or isfixed to the wall 10 a by means of bolts which penetrate throughrecesses 21 b. In addition, the assembly plate 2 b is also configuredwith undercut grooves 25, into which the heads of studs 27, whichpenetrate through bore holes 32 provided in the sink bowl 3, are capableof being introduced. In the same way, this assembly plate 2 b can alsobe used for other sanitary bowls.

A bowl of this kind, especially a sink bowl, toilet bowl, bidet bowl orthe like, is preferably provided in its base adjacent to the wallsurface with a border 33 in particular running all the way round, bywhich a recess 30 is formed, into which the assembly plate 2 b projects.In a sanitary bowl of this configuration, a plate made of an elasticmaterial can be inserted into this recess 30 in addition to the assemblyplate 2 b or, where appropriate, in its place. The use of a plate ofthis kind prevents the sanitary bowl that is manufactured from a ceramicmaterial, and therefore from a very hard material, from coming intocontact directly with the supporting surface, which as a rule is coveredwith tiles.

Depicted in FIGS. 6 and 6 a is a variant embodiment of the assemblyplate 2 b of a kind in which the assembly plate 2 b is configured on itsupper border with an upwardly projecting strip 28, which is gripped frombehind by an equal and opposing strip 33 provided in the upper part ofthe base of the sink bowl 3, as a result of which the sink bowl 3 isfixed to the assembly plate 2 b both by means of the screws 27 and bymeans of the strips 28 and 33. This assembly plate 2 b can also beconfigured with recesses 21 b for fixing to a wall surface 10 a.

Depicted in FIGS. 7 and 7 a is a fourth embodiment of an assembly plate2 c, which is constituted by a plate manufactured from a metal,especially from stainless steel, from which bolts 29 project. The sinkbowl 3 is pushed onto these bolts 29 in such a way that they penetratethe bore holes 32 provided in the base of the sink bowl 3, the sink bowl3 being fixed by means of nuts screwed onto the bolts 29. Since thisassembly plate 2 c exhibits a very small wall thickness, it can beprovided between the wall 10 a and the lateral surface of the sink bowl3 allocated thereto. This assembly plate 2 b can also be configured withslots 21 c or the like for fixing to a wall surface 10 a.

The fifth embodiment of an assembly plate 2 d according to the inventiondepicted in FIG. 8 is constituted by an approximately rectangular plate,for example, which is provided with bore holes 21 for fixing bolts andwhich is provided on its upper side with at least one guide constitutedby rails 41 which are angled toward one another, in which guide slidingparts 42 are capable of sliding displacement. The sliding parts 42 areprovided at their free ends with sections of tube 43, which exhibit aninternal thread. In addition, the sliding parts 42 are configured withthreaded bore holes 44, to which studs 45 are allocated. The sections oftube 43 can be capable of pivoting in relation to the sliding parts 42about an axis oriented transversely to the direction of displacement ofthe sliding parts 42, as indicated by a double arrow A. An adaptation ofthe position of the sections of tube 43 to the direction of the studinserted into these for the purpose of fixing the sanitary bowl can takeplace in this way, as a result of which easier assembly is alsoachieved.

An assembly plate 2 d of this kind is fixed to a floor surface or to awall surface by means of a number of bolts penetrating the bore holes21. In addition, or as an alternative thereto, this assembly plate 2 dcan be fixed to the supporting surface by gluing. The sliding parts 42are then pushed into the guides formed by the strips 41 until thesections of tube 43 are situated apart from one another by a distanceexhibited by two mutually opposing bore holes 14 in the base of a toiletbowl 1. The sliding parts 42 are fixed in this position by means of thestuds 45 that are inserted into the bore holes 44.

Fixing bolts which penetrate the bore holes 14 of the toilet bowl 1 arethen screwed into the sections of tube 43.

The assembly of a sanitary bowl, such as a toilet bowl, a sink bowl andthe like, is made considerably easier in this way.

The assembly plate 2 d according to FIG. 8 a differs from the assemblyplate 2 d according to FIG. 8 in that it is configured along its lateraledges with recesses running in an approximately circular form. Thearrangement of the assembly plate 26 close to the outlet pipe of atoilet bowl is made possible in this way.

The assembly plate 2 d can thus exhibit any desired embodiments. Desiredembodiments of the assembly plate 2 d are required because sanitarybowls, especially toilet bowls, are manufactured and marketed in aplurality of designs. By virtue of the fact that the sliding parts 42are capable of any desired adjustment in relation to the assembly plate2 d, since the sections of tube 43 are capable of being caused to pivotin relation to the sliding parts 42, and additionally due to thepresence of the lateral recesses, this assembly plate 2 d is suitablefor fixing a plurality of sanitary bowls of different design.

Reference is made in this respect to the representations in FIGS. 9 and9 a, which relate to FIGS. 1 and 1B, wherein the assembly plates 2 d areadditionally represented.

Reference is also made to the fact that the guide rail 41 can be ofT-shaped configuration in its cross section, and the sliding parts 42can be of U-shaped configuration, wherein they engage behind the guiderail 41. The function depends on the configuration of the assembly plate2 d with guides, along which sliding parts are capable of slidingdisplacement and of being secured in position, wherein the fixing boltsfor the sanitary bowls are capable of being anchored in the slidingparts.

The use of an assembly plate of this kind permits difficulties, whichwould otherwise be encountered in conjunction with the fixing ofsanitary plumbing fixtures such as toilet bowls and the like because ofthe low strength or the poor quality of the supporting surface and/orbecause of the presence of existing lines in the supporting surface, tobe avoided in a simple manner. Furthermore, the fixing of plumbingfixtures to supporting surfaces is considerably facilitated by thisassembly plate.

1. A device for fixing a plumbing fixture to a supporting surface, theplumbing fixture having a base to be positioned on and fixed to thesupporting surface, the device comprising: an assembly plate configuredto be fixed to the supporting surface and for attachment thereto of thebase of the plumbing fixture; fixing bolts configured to penetratethrough bore holes in the base of the plumbing fixture and fixing thebase to said assembly plate; wherein said assembly plate is disposedbetween the plumbing fixture and the supporting surface when theplumbing fixture is mounted in position.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said assembly plate is formed with an outer bordersubstantially identical in shape to an inner edge of the base of theplumbing fixture, with the inner edge of the base being positioned atleast in part on said outer border of said assembly plate.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said assembly plate is formed with boreholes for bolting said assembly plate to the supporting surface.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said assembly plate is formed withbore holes associated with the bore holes formed in the base of theplumbing fixture and configured to receive said fixing bolts for fixingthe plumbing fixture.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidassembly plate is formed with at least one undercut groove, and saidfixing bolts penetrating the base of the plumbing fixture are formed tobe anchored in said undercut groove.
 6. The device according to claim 5,wherein said fixing bolts penetrating the base are hammer head bolts. 7.The device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly plate is formedwith at least one guide configured to receive sliding parts and allowingsliding displacement of said sliding parts, and wherein said slidingparts are formed for anchoring said fixing bolts penetrating the base ofthe plumbing fixture.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein saidsliding parts are formed for said fixing bolts to be screwed into saidsliding parts.
 9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said guide isformed with angled strips on an upper side of said assembly plate. 10.The device according to claim 9, wherein said strips have an L-shaped orT-shaped cross section, and said sliding parts may be slideablydisplaced thereon.
 11. The device according to claim 7, which comprisesone or more screws allocated to said sliding parts for fixing saidsliding parts in position on said assembly plate.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein each of said sliding parts is formed witha tube section configured to receive therein in threaded engagement saidfixing bolts penetrating the bore holes in the base of the plumbingfixture.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said tube sectionis pivotally supported relative to said sliding parts.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein said tube section is pivotally supportedin a plane of a direction of displacement.
 15. The device according toclaim 7, wherein said assembly plate is formed with lateral recesses.16. The device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly plate is ametal plate having said fixing bolts projecting from a side facingtowards said plumbing fixture, and wherein the fixture may be slid ontosaid assembly plate with said fixing bolts projecting through the boreholes in the base thereof.
 17. The device according to claim 1, whereinsaid assembly plate is a strip, and the base of the plumbing fixture isformed with a counter strip, and wherein said strip and said counterstrip are formed for clamping to one another.
 18. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said fixing bolts are threaded bolts.
 19. A plumbingfixture, comprising: a base formed with a recess configured to receivetherein an assembly plate according to claim 1; said base having aborder extending laterally of said assembly plate as far as and cominginto contact with a supporting surface.
 20. The plumbing fixtureaccording to claim 19, formed as a commode, a toilet bowl, a bidet, or aurinal, wherein said border runs completely around said assembly plate.21. A method of fixing a plumbing fixture to a wall surface or to afloor surface of a bathroom, the method which comprises: providing anassembly plate, according to claim 1; fixing the assembly plate to thesupporting surface by gluing or screwing; subsequently placing theplumbing fixture placed onto the assembly plate, with the assembly platebetween a base of the plumbing fixture and the supporting surface; andbolting the plumbing fixture to the assembly plate.